Public Law 89–441

That the Secretary of the Interior shall within six months of the date of the passage of this Act complete the public land survey around the Great Salt Lake in the State of Utah by closing the meander line of that Lake, following as accurately as possible the mean high water mark of the Great Salt Lake used in fixing the meander line on either side of the unsurveyed area.

Sec. 2.

Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall by quitclaim deed convey to the State of Utah all right, title, and interest of the United States in lands including brines and minerals in solution in the brines or precipitated or extracted therefrom, lying below the meander line of the Great Salt Lake in such State, as duly surveyed heretofore or in accordance with section 1 of this Act, whether such lands now are or in the future may become uncovered by the recession of the waters of said lake: Provided, however, That the provisions of this Act shall not affect (1) any valid existing rights or interests, if any, of any person, partnership, association, corporation, or other nongovernmental entity, in or to any of the lands within and below said meander line, or (2) any lands within the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and the Weber Basin Federal reclamation project. Such conveyance shall be made when the survey required by section 1 has been completed and the agreement required by section 6 has been made.

Sec. 3.

The conveyance authorized by this Act shall contain an express reservation to the United States of all minerals, except brines and minerals in solution in the brines, or precipitated or extracted therefrom in whatever Federal lands there may be below the meander line of Great Salt Lake, together with the right to prospect for, mine, and remove the same. The minerals thus reserved shall thereupon be withdrawn from appropriation under the public land laws of the United States, including the mining laws, but said minerals, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, may be disposed of under any of the provisions of the mineral leasing laws that he deems appropriate: Provided, That any such lease shall not be inconsistent, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior, with the other uses of said lands by the State of Utah, its grantees, lessees, or permittees.

Sec. 4.

As a condition of the conveyance authorized in this Act,

Relinquishment of State’s claims.

and in consideration thereof, the State of Utah shall, (a) upon the express authority of an Act of its legislature, convey to the United States by quitclaim deed all of its rights, title, and interest in lands upland from the meander line, which lands the State may claim against the United States by reason of said lands having been, or hereafter becoming, submerged by the waters of Great Salt Lake, and (b) pay to the Secretary of the Interior the fair market value, as determined by the Secretary, of the lands (including any minerals) conveyed to it pursuant to section 2 of this Act. The Secretary of the Interior, after consultation with the State of Utah, may accept in payment in behalf of the United States, in lieu of money only, interests in lands, interests in mineral rights, including those beneath the lakebed, the relinquishment of land selection rights, or any combination thereof equal to the fair market value.

Sec. 5.

Within nine months after the date of enactment of this

Fair market value.

Determination.

Act the State of Utah shall elect one of the alternatives set out in subsection (a) or subsection (b) of this section, and a failure so to elect shall render null and void any conveyance pursuant to this Act. The State—

Sec. 6.

Pending resolution of the amount and manner of compensation

State issuance of permits, etc.

to be paid by the State of Utah to the United States as provided herein, the State of Utah is authorized after making the agreement required by this section to issue permits, licenses, and leases covering such of these lands as the State deems necessary or appropriate to further the development of the water and mineral resources of the

Administration.

Great Salt Lake, or for other purposes. The State of Utah, by or pursuant to an express act of its legislature, shall agree to assume the obligation to administer the lands, for the purposes set forth above, in the manner of a trustee and any proceeds derived by the State of Utah therefrom shall be paid to the United States, until compensation for the full value of said lands as herein provided is made. Such proceeds paid to the United States shall be to the credit of the State of Utah as

Title litigation.

part of the compensation for which provision is made herein. If the question of the title to the United States is litigated as authorized by section 5(b) of this Act, and it is determined that the United States has no right, title, or interest in lands from which revenues have been derived and paid to the United States pursuant to this section, the revenues paid to the United States shall be returned to the State of Utah without interest.

In the event the conveyance authorized by section 2 of this Act becomes null and void, then any valid permits, licenses, and leases issued by the State under authority of this section, shall be deemed permits, licenses, and leases of the United States and shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with the terms and provisions thereof.